Political Science at Carthage College

Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,259/yr (-34% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #516 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

Program Analysis

While the detailed tables show the financial outcomes, it’s important to understand the context. Carthage's Political Science and Government program, as a broad liberal arts degree, often sees graduates enter diverse fields in the local Kenosha/Milwaukee area. This includes roles in local government, community organizations, and advocacy groups, which typically have different starting salaries and growth trajectories compared to federal policy analysis or corporate government relations roles found in larger metropolitan centers. The program's strength lies in developing critical thinking and communication skills, which are transferable, but often require you to build specialized expertise through internships or further education to command higher salaries. Given the high AI risk for many generalist analytical tasks, actively pursuing internships and potentially a complementary minor in economics or data science can be crucial for enhancing your marketability and long-term earnings potential.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $385K $398K $391K
Earnings Multiple 2.6x 2.7x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 26 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$146,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$99,252
32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,345
9.6 months of Year 1 earnings

About Carthage College

Carthage College accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 2,628 students in Kenosha, WI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $99,252 — 32% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Carthage College →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Political Science at Other Schools

Other Majors at Carthage College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Carthage College's Political Science program score?
This program scores 26/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Political Science earnings lower at Carthage College?
Lower starting pay at Carthage College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →